Korea 2000 (EPSG:4737)
Nov 5,2025

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Introduction

Korea 2000 coordinate system is the national plane coordinate system adopted by Korea in 2002. It is based on ITRF97 framework and GRS80 ellipsoid and adopts transverse Mercator projection (central meridian 127°E). It replaced the old Tokyo coordinate system and is compatible with global satellite positioning systems (such as GPS). It has higher accuracy and is widely used in Korea's land surveying and engineering construction.

Coordinate System Composition

The Korea 2000 Geodetic Datum (KGD2000) primarily consists of the following components:

Coordinate Framework: The KGD2000 adopts the International Terrestrial Reference Frame 1997 (ITRF97) as its reference framework, with a reference epoch set at 2000.0. This ensures alignment or a precisely defined connection with the international coordinate framework.
Origin and Axes Orientation:

Origin: Located at the center of mass of the entire Earth, including oceans and atmosphere.
Z-axis: Directed from the origin toward the Earth's reference pole at epoch 2000.0.
X-axis: Directed from the origin toward the intersection of the Greenwich Reference Meridian and the equatorial plane at epoch 2000.0.
Y-axis: Forms a right-handed orthogonal coordinate system with the Z-axis and X-axis.

Reference Ellipsoid: The KGD2000 utilizes the Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80) ellipsoid as its reference ellipsoid. The geometric center of this ellipsoid coincides with the origin of the coordinate system, and its rotation axis aligns with the Z-axis of the system.
Control Network: The core of the KGD2000 is constituted by a sufficient number of well-distributed GPS Continuous Operating Stations (COS). These stations continuously receive and transmit GPS signals 24 hours a day, providing high-precision positioning data for the coordinate system.

Pros

High-Precision Positioning: Utilizing the ITRF97 as its reference framework and adopting the GRS80 ellipsoid with a reference epoch of 2000.0, the coordinate system is compatible with international standards. It provides millimeter-level high-precision positioning, meeting the demands of modern spatial technologies for high accuracy and catering to a wide range of engineering and surveying activities with stringent precision requirements.
Advantages of a Geocentric Origin: With the Earth's center as its origin, the coordinate system aligns more closely with the development trends of modern spatial technologies. It facilitates seamless integration with global positioning systems (such as GPS) and other mainstream international positioning systems, enhancing positioning accuracy and reliability, and providing a more solid foundation for various spatial technology applications.
Dynamism and Practicality: As a dynamic and practical coordinate system, it better reflects changes on the Earth's surface and adapts to the evolving needs of modern spatial technologies. It meets South Korea's urgent requirements in areas such as BeiDou global positioning systems, global space remote sensing, marine monitoring, and local surveying and mapping services.
Framework Stability Monitoring: The core of the coordinate system is constituted by a sufficient number of well-distributed GPS Continuous Operating Stations (COS). The National Geographic Information Institute (NGI) of South Korea conducts weekly computations on the GPS tracking data received from these stations to monitor the operational and positional stability of each COS, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the coordinate system framework.

Cons

Poor Intuitiveness: Compared to the latitude-longitude coordinate system, the geodetic coordinate system is less intuitive and requires professional mapping tools and calculations for comprehension and utilization. This limits its widespread adoption to a certain extent, posing difficulties for non-professionals in understanding and applying the coordinate system.
Issues with Framework Density and Coverage: The current framework suffers from insufficient density, characterized by uneven geographical distribution and low precision. This may be disadvantageous for certain regions, such as those involved in western development initiatives in South Korea. Additionally, the framework lacks breadth, potentially affecting its application effectiveness in specific regions or fields.
Changes in Coordinate Framework Point Values: The monument markers representing points in the Korea 2000 coordinate framework are subject to movement, meaning the coordinate values of these points are variable. Although long-term observations have allowed for the provision of annual movement rates for some points with relatively stable displacements within the Korea 2000 system to maintain the currency of coordinate values, the continuous changes in these values still increase the complexity and difficulty of data processing.

Application Scenario

The Korea 2000 coordinate system (KGD2000) is widely used in Korea's high-precision surveying and mapping, land planning, engineering construction, cadastral management, GNSS navigation, geological disaster monitoring and other fields. It provides a unified benchmark for modern space technology and supports data fusion of global positioning systems such as Beidou/GPS. It also serves national infrastructure projects such as marine surveying and urban planning.